When do I get my award? 
I am about to pull out a bar from my first batch that I have been saving to test at the one year mark. It was 30/30/30/10 - Apricot Kernel, OO, CO and Shea Butter. Essential oils of Palmarosa, Patchouli and Ylang were used - although I did not use very much (as a newbie I thought I didn't need much so probably only used about 5g each for a 1 litre batch). The fragrance now is barley noticeable, I will report back after showering if it perks up a bit with the addition of water.
My recipe has evolved over time, of course, and my newer soaps are undoubtedly a better combination of oils, and mostly all include aloe juice now because I love it so much. If there's no aloe, there's probably oat milk or coconut milk.
My thoughts now turn to which 'flavours' I want to make again. I have already made repeat batches of my lime and coconut (made three times now), Beer soap, Karma Chameleon (lush copy), Fig and Rhubarb, Rose, Charcoal ITP swirl, various confetti soaps, and @Zany_in_CO 's no slime castile. My sister recons I should continue to make my Pumice and Poppy Seed soap, but call it 'Gardeners Soap' ( which it is intended for) because people at markets are drawn more to the name 'Gardeners' than Pumice. I want to develop a 'core' range that I will continue to make.
I have a truckload of FOs and EOs in the cupboard I still need to try. Some others I need to use up, but I wonder if I should maybe just toss 'em if they are odds and ends of flavours that none likes anyway (coffee being one of those). I'm learning which scents have stickability, and which ones fade and, of course - going with the ones that have staying power. White tea is my current fave!
I still have a few of my very early soaps here that are AWFUL! LOL - what was I thinking! I'm wondering if I should just throw them out. One of them has so much dried rosemary in it that I can't even use it for confetti.
Anyhoo - that's a very long story for you to read. Thanks for those making it though to the end!
I am about to pull out a bar from my first batch that I have been saving to test at the one year mark. It was 30/30/30/10 - Apricot Kernel, OO, CO and Shea Butter. Essential oils of Palmarosa, Patchouli and Ylang were used - although I did not use very much (as a newbie I thought I didn't need much so probably only used about 5g each for a 1 litre batch). The fragrance now is barley noticeable, I will report back after showering if it perks up a bit with the addition of water.
My recipe has evolved over time, of course, and my newer soaps are undoubtedly a better combination of oils, and mostly all include aloe juice now because I love it so much. If there's no aloe, there's probably oat milk or coconut milk.
My thoughts now turn to which 'flavours' I want to make again. I have already made repeat batches of my lime and coconut (made three times now), Beer soap, Karma Chameleon (lush copy), Fig and Rhubarb, Rose, Charcoal ITP swirl, various confetti soaps, and @Zany_in_CO 's no slime castile. My sister recons I should continue to make my Pumice and Poppy Seed soap, but call it 'Gardeners Soap' ( which it is intended for) because people at markets are drawn more to the name 'Gardeners' than Pumice. I want to develop a 'core' range that I will continue to make.
I have a truckload of FOs and EOs in the cupboard I still need to try. Some others I need to use up, but I wonder if I should maybe just toss 'em if they are odds and ends of flavours that none likes anyway (coffee being one of those). I'm learning which scents have stickability, and which ones fade and, of course - going with the ones that have staying power. White tea is my current fave!
I still have a few of my very early soaps here that are AWFUL! LOL - what was I thinking! I'm wondering if I should just throw them out. One of them has so much dried rosemary in it that I can't even use it for confetti.
Anyhoo - that's a very long story for you to read. Thanks for those making it though to the end!
